Real Money

ESSA Secures US$10 Million Term Loan From Silicon Valley Bank

HOUSTON and VANCOUVER, Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - ESSA Pharma Inc. (TSX: EPI, NASDAQ: EPIX) ("ESSA" or the "Company"), a pharmaceutical company focused on the development of small molecule drugs for the treatment of prostate cancer, announced that it has secured a US$10 million growth capital term loan facility from Silicon Valley Bank ("SVB" or the "Bank"). Under the loan and security agreement, the Company will initially draw down US$8 million and has a conditional option to receive an additional US$2 million (collectively, the "Term Loans"). The proceeds from the Term Loans will be used for the Company's future working capital needs.

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"This loan facility strengthens our balance sheet as we continue to enroll patients in the Phase 1 dose escalation clinical trial of EPI-506, our product candidate for castrate resistant prostate cancer, and prepare for the Phase 2 portion of the clinical trial," said Dr. David R. Parkinson, ESSA President and Chief Executive Officer.

"ESSA is driving important advancements in the treatment of prostate cancer," said Michael White, Managing Director at Silicon Valley Bank. "We look forward to supporting ESSA's clinical development of a new therapeutic for prostate cancer. Our goal is to provide the ESSA team with the right financing, connections and global services to facilitate their continued success."

Coupled with existing cash resources, the proceeds from the Term Loans are expected to provide ESSA with sufficient cash to (i) complete EPI-506's Phase 1 clinical study, (ii) trigger a US$5.4 million grant under the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas ("CPRIT") program at completion of the Phase 1 clinical study and (iii) commence EPI-506's Phase 2 portion of the clinical study.